Page 84 of Power Play

I’m good. I’ll get her to bed. Hopefully sleep will help

Clay:

Hope so too

Smiling to myself, I slip my phone into my back pocket, pick up the glass of water, and go back to the bathroom. I need toconvince Maya to go to bed. Sitting on the floor and trying to throw up won’t help. She needs rest in her warm, cozy bed.

“I talked to Angie. She and Nev hope you get well soon,” I say once I step into the bathroom. “Clay does too.”

Maya lifts her head from the toilet; the tiniest smile peeks onto her lips. “I miss Clay.”

“I know, sweetheart. Maybe he’ll come visit us soon. He has four home games in a row, so he’ll be home for a week.” I sit down beside her, extending the glass. “Drink this but with little sips, okay?”

She nods, taking the glass from me. The heat of her skin strikes me, and my eyes round.No, please…As Maya starts sipping on water, I move forward and gently press my palm to her forehead.

Fuck.

She has a fever.

Well, my day officially got worse.

I leaveMaya’s door cracked when I slip out into the hallway. Thankfully, the chewable tablet I gave her helped bring the temperature down before she fell asleep, from 102 to 98. And she didn’t throw up again—another small win.

It’s all good, but I’m exhausted. My head hurts, a dull pain pulsating in my temples.

I drag my feet to the living room and slump onto the couch without turning on the lights. Instead, I light up the scented candle and the smell of peonies fills the room. Drake and Angie are already home; he called me on his way from the arena. To check on me and Maya. He sounded so defeated that I didn’t dare to ask what the final score was.

All I know is that Vancouver won.

My heart constricts as thoughts of Clay reappear in my mind with full force. I wish I could’ve been there for him, that I could’ve been the support system he always was for me.

I run my hand over my face and down to my chin, pausing before it gets to my throat. Wait a minute. I return my palm to my forehead and instantly close my eyes when I realize I probably have a fever too. That definitely explains why I feel like shit.

I grab the thermometer from the little table, and after a few moments I see 99.5. It’s not much, so instead of going to the kitchen for a medicine I head to Maya’s room. I lower myself down on her covers, and curl my hand around her shoulder, holding her close. My eyes start growing heavy, so I close them and just lie here. A few more minutes…

A knockon the door makes me sit up in bed. I’m a bit disoriented, my head feels like it weighs a ton. My fever definitely got worse while I slept. A knock on the door repeats, and panic rises inside me. My eyes dance between sleeping Maya and the door to her room.

Who is it?

I get up from the bed, and my vision starts to blur. Closing my eyes, I take a few deep breaths and then quickly tiptoe out of Maya’s room. I pull the door closed and rush to the front door. I have a fever, Maya is asleep after feeling terrible all day, and I’m not in the mood for guests. Whoever this is, their timing is terrible.

I swing the door open and come face-to-face with Clay. He stands in front of me in his black pants and a white shirt with ablack bowtie, the box with Maya’s surprise in his hands. A gentle smile crosses his lips, and his eyes are full of joyful energy. Any other day I would’ve been happy to see him, but not tonight. My limbs are tingling with fatigue, my heartbeat is in my throat. I feel like I’m ready to throw up.

He shouldn’t be here.

“Hey, Layla,” he says. “I thought I’d stop by and bring Maya her surprise. I’m sure she needs something to cheer her up.”

“Uh-huh,” I mutter. “I wasn’t expecting you.”

“I was on my way home and decided to take a detour.” Clay shifts awkwardly. “How’s Maya?”

The dull pain in my head becomes more prominent. I feel like a boiled fish, which in my book is awful.

“How is Maya?” Clay asks again.

“She’s finally asleep, and I was able to manage her fever.”

“I thought you said she had a stomach?—”

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